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Bible: James 2:1-9

If you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers (V.9)

His face was grimy; his hair long and dirty. Beer stained his clothes and stank the air out around him. When he stepped into our church one Sunday morning, we ignored him. We were amazed when the man approached the stage, took off his wig and began preaching. That’s when we realised he was our pastor!

I don’t know about you, but I’m only friendly with the people I know. Or the people who look ‘normal’ to me. I don’t do that well with new or ‘different’ people.

James gives a serious warning to people like me. He wrote, “If you show favouritism, you sin” (2:9). Only talking to people because of how they look or dress has no place in God’s family. In fact, it means we have “become judges with evil thoughts” (V.4).

We can work against this kind of attitude by loving others (all others!) as ourselves—no matter who they may be. Stopping to speak to people like the ‘weird’ kid or our upset classmate means we “keep the royal law found in Scripture” (V.8). In a world that has favourites, let’s show the love of Jesus to anyone we meet today!

REAL LOVE IS READY TO WELCOME ABSOLUTELY ANYONE.